About St. Ann · Stoughton, Wisconsin
St. Ann Catholic Parish is a historic parish in Stoughton, Wisconsin, part of the Diocese of Madison and now joined with four neighboring churches in the St. Cletus Pastorate (Pastorate 24). Its roots reach back to 1854, when Father Etschmann of St. Raphael Parish in Madison celebrated the first Mass in a private home in Stoughton. The parish built its first church in 1868 on land purchased from Luke Stoughton, the town's namesake, and in 1931 dedicated the present church on Jackson and Harrison Streets. Today the parish continues its mission of bringing people to Jesus, forming disciples, and sending them out to transform the world, sustained by daily and weekly Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, a parish school (St. Ann School, founded 1964), youth and young-adult programs, and outreach across the greater Stoughton community.
- Established
- 1854 (first Mass); parish organized 1868
- Patron
- St. Ann (mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. David Wanish (Parochial Administrator of the St. Cletus Pastorate, which includes St. Ann)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Madison
Why belong here
St. Ann offers a faithful, multi-generational Catholic community rooted in 170+ years of Stoughton history and animated by a clear mission: 'bringing people to Jesus, forming disciples, and sending them to transform the world.' Parishioners can worship at a Sunday morning Mass, a Saturday vigil, and three weekday Masses; spend time with the Lord in Monday and Saturday Eucharistic Adoration; gather for the sacrament of Confession on Saturday mornings; and pray and serve through programs for young adults (DECLARE), faith formation for children through St. Ann School, and outreach across the St. Cletus Pastorate. It is a parish with both deep roots and an active, outward-looking life.
Mass times at St. Ann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:45–9:00 AM
Adoration times
- Monday 12:00–1:00 PM
- Saturday 8:00–9:00 AM
Our History
Catholic life in Stoughton began in 1854 with the first Mass said in a private home by Fr. Etschmann of St. Raphael Parish in Madison, who traveled between the two towns by handcar. A frame church was built in 1868 on land bought from Luke Stoughton. The first resident pastor arrived in 1919, and the present church at Jackson and Harrison Streets was dedicated in 1931 when Archbishop Samuel E. Stritch of Milwaukee laid the cornerstone. In 1964 the parish opened St. Ann School. The parish marked its 150th anniversary in 2019.
- 1854 — first Mass in Stoughton
- 1868 — first church built
- 1919 — first resident pastor
- 1931 — current church cornerstone laid
- 1964 — St. Ann School opens
- 2019 — 150th anniversary celebrated
- 2023 — merged into St. Cletus Pastorate
DECLARE — Young Adults
DECLARE is St. Ann's young-adult gathering, meeting every second and fourth Monday of the month at 7:00 PM in the chapel at St. Ann. The night is centered on adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, worship, and the sacrament of Confession.
- Every 2nd and 4th Monday
- 7:00 PM in the chapel
- Adoration, worship, and Confession
St. Ann School
St. Ann School is a Catholic, parochial school serving Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8 within the Diocese of Madison. Founded in 1964, the school partners with parents to nurture the spiritual, academic, social, cultural, and emotional growth of each child, and also serves as a site for the Stoughton Area School District 4K program.
- Grades served: PK–8
- Founded 1964
- Located at 324 N. Harrison St., Stoughton
- Part of the St. Cletus Pastorate
- Principal: Aimee Stano (since July 2024)
- Phone: (608) 873-6425
St. Cletus Pastorate
St. Ann is one of five churches that together form St. Cletus Parish (Pastorate 24) of the Diocese of Madison, created as part of Bishop Donald J. Hying's pastoral planning to better share the Gospel across the diocese. The pastorate is led by a team of priests with Fr. David Wanish as Parochial Administrator.
- St. Joseph — Edgerton
- St. Paul — Evansville
- St. Augustine — Footville
- Holy Mother of Consolation — Oregon
- St. Ann — Stoughton
- Parochial Administrator: Fr. David Wanish
- Parochial Vicars: Fr. Randy Budnar, Fr. John Bosco Pudhota
- Deacon: Deacon Mark Priniski
Sacraments and Faith Formation
St. Ann celebrates the sacraments in and through the St. Cletus Pastorate. Weekend and weekday Masses are offered at St. Ann Church, the sacrament of Reconciliation is heard on Saturday mornings, and Eucharistic Adoration is available Monday and Saturday. Sacramental preparation for baptism, first Communion, confirmation, and marriage is coordinated pastorate-wide.
- Mass (daily and Sunday)
- Confession (Saturday morning)
- Eucharistic Adoration (Monday and Saturday)
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation preparation
- Marriage preparation
Mission and Community Life
St. Ann Parish describes its mission as bringing people to Jesus, forming disciples, and sending them out to transform the world. The parish maintains a prayer-request ministry, a parish blog and podcast, livestreamed Masses, and a regular bulletin of upcoming events for parishioners across the Stoughton area.
- Prayer Request ministry
- Livestreamed Masses
- Parish blog and podcast
- Parish-wide Confession Nights
- Go Make Disciples initiatives (pastorate-wide)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Etschmann (of St. Raphael, Madison)1854
Said the first Mass in Stoughton at a private home; traveled from Madison by handcar.
- Fr. Randy Budnar2018–2023 (approx.)
Served as pastor of St. Ann, Stoughton; moved from Holy Rosary Parish in Darlington in 2018; became Parochial Vicar of the new St. Cletus Pastorate at the 2023 merger.